THE political situation in the country is getting tenser by the day. The anti-government campaign by the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement, has raised the temperature and triggered a fierce reaction from the government. The war of words is escalating dangerously and the nature of mutual accusations is getting inflammatory. On Sunday, while addressing a gathering in GB, Prime Minister Imran Khan used harsh language against the opposition and once again accused them of promoting the enemy’s narrative. He lashed out at them for criticising the chiefs of the army and ISI, saying this proved that he had appointed the right people. The prime minister also dangerously insinuated that the statement by PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq amounted to treason. On almost similar lines — and perhaps more dangerous — was the statement issued by Interior Minister Ijaz Shah. In a speech in his constituency, the retired brigadier said the outlawed terrorist group TTP had in reaction to the ANP’s policies on terrorism attacked and killed many of its leaders, adding he prayed for the safety of those following the PML-N narrative. These remarks were widely seen as threatening in nature and condemned vociferously by opposition parties.
There is a trend evident here. The top leadership of the PTI is increasingly resorting to rhetoric that is both irresponsible and dangerous. Equating opponents with the enemy’s narrative, hurling accusations of treason and warning of a blowback from terror groups — all this can amount to incitement to violence. It is shocking that people occupying offices of responsibility are indulging in such crude tactics to pressure their opponents. It appears the government has adopted a no-holds-barred approach towards the opposition regardless of the consequences this may accrue. It is perhaps in line with such a strategy that the PTI has decided to hold public rallies to counter the campaign launched by the PDM. The first rally is scheduled to be held in Hafizabad and the prime minister is expected to address it. This will further fuel tension and escalate the level of confrontation. With both the government and opposition hitting the streets and increasing the tempo of their rhetoric, the situation seems primed for some mishap.
It is a pity that in this deadly game of one-upmanship no one is willing to take a step back. There is no individual, organisation or institution that can step in the middle and disengage political rivals before they fall off the precipice. What makes this of greater concern are the charged times we live in. The Gilgit-Baltistan elections later this month are providing all parties a platform to ratchet up their rhetoric, and in another two weeks the PDM will resume its jalsas. Sanity must prevail on all sides before the situation reaches a point that becomes unsustainable for our already weak and compromised system.
Wrong message
COVID-19 cases across the country are rising at a dangerous pace, with the official coronavirus-related death toll in the last week alone close to 100. The situation is growing worrisome as ministers sound the alarm over a positivity ratio which has crossed the 3pc mark and is continuing to escalate. In Islamabad, daily positive Covid-19 cases are growing at an alarming rate, spurring the administration into imposing Section 144 and making mask-wearing mandatory in public. In Peshawar, another doctor succumbed to the virus last week, taking KP’s virus-related death toll among the medical community to a shocking 20. As the virus spreads, the National Command and Operation Centre is mulling measures to curb transmission while limiting damage to economic activity in the country. Alarm is evident — as it should be — from the federal government’s hotline initiative through which citizens can call and report others for violating SOPs.
It is beginning to look like a long, dark winter for Pakistan. Despite the success of lowering the curve in the first phase of the pandemic in the country, officials at the helm of our Covid-19 response have been late to act against the second wave. A basic Covid-19 SOP such as mask-wearing became mandatory only in recent weeks when it should have been enforced strictly at the federal and provincial level from day one — especially given that Pakistan opened up business months ago to heal a battered economy. Now, with cases spreading rapidly in communities and with daily testing below 30,000, a nightmare situation is starting to unfold where authorities will be forced to consider restricting economic activities to save lives. As respiratory illnesses spike in the smog season, Covid-19 hospitalisations will become an even bigger challenge for the medical community. In this environment, the idea that huge political rallies will continue to take place is unfathomable. While the opposition parties took the lead in holding these superspreader events, the government also made the logic-defying decision to hold a large public rally of its own. This sends the wrong message and negates what government ministers and advisers are themselves saying about the need to curb the virus. Instead of attempting to showcase its own popularity, the government should spend its energy on battling the virus as well as the myriad other challenges it is facing, which include food insecurity and a power and gas crisis — which will likely worsen as Covid-19 cases escalate.
IHK land laws
AMONGST the more sinister components of the Indian government’s move to rescind Kashmiri autonomy last year was the green light given to Indians to buy land in the disputed region. Kashmiris fear this will allow non-locals to flood the held region and transform the demographic profile of the area, in effect creating ‘facts on the ground’, much as illegal Israeli settlers have done in the occupied territories. There was a widespread shutdown in IHK on Saturday to protest the new land laws, which have recently taken effect, with businesses closed as a mark of protest. Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had given the strike call to protest India’s “policy of permanent demographic change” in the occupied region.
While doing away with held Kashmir’s flag and constitution were blatant moves by India to smother Kashmiris’ desire for freedom and a just solution to the decades-old conflict, letting outsiders buy land in the occupied region hits the area’s people particularly hard. It allows those from outside the region with deep pockets to buy Kashmiris’ homes and businesses, in effect paving the way for locals to one day be converted into a minority in their own land. While pro-freedom Kashmiris have resolutely denounced these moves, even some of New Delhi’s closest allies in the occupied region have distanced themselves from India’s colonial actions designed to dilute the Kashmiri identity. Allowing non-locals to buy land is a recipe for disaster and will damage the demographic character of IHK beyond repair. Instead of resorting to controversial moves such as these, the BJP-led government must listen to the voices coming out of held Kashmir, demanding dignity and protection of their fundamental rights. Kashmiris are the masters of their land and destiny and no legal subterfuge can change that. Better sense should prevail and India should do away with the new land laws, or else a new wave of resentment is likely in IHK — one that will be difficult for India to suppress.
